CLEVELAND, Ohio – In the end, the results of the 59th Annual Grammy Awards seemed inevitable, didn’t they?
It was Adele for the win, over and over again. She won the three biggest awards of the night and it should come as no surprise. Adele had her ups and downs during the night (We’ll get to that in a minute). But the ceremony ended with the superstar in tears, humble and paying tribute to her biggest competition Beyonce.
In terms of performances, it was a bit of overload for the second consecutive year. The Grammys have moved to a point where the number of performances is more than double that of the awards given out on television.
Still, there was a lot more to marvel at this year than the past few Grammy ceremonies. Adele opened the show with a great rendition of her hit “Hello.” From there, Beyonce took center stage with one of the most eye-popping Grammy experiences ever seen.
Many wondered how Beyonce would perform while pregnant with twins. She was smart about it, opting for a visual spectacle and precise vocals. Her performance paid tribute to mothers and children everywhere.
The showcase was so complex, it might have gone over some people’s heads. But Beyonce further drove her message of pride and family home when she accepted the award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
WATCH: Beyonce performs “Love Drought” & “Sandcastles” at the 2017 #GRAMMYs. pic.twitter.com/ewiCAPmguT
— BEYONCE LEGION (@Bey_Legion) February 13, 2017
Other standout performances included a subtle showcase for Album of the Year nominee Sturgill Simpson (backed by the Dap-Kings’ horn section) and The Weeknd hitting the stage with Daft Punk for the song “I Feel It Coming.”
There’s also something to be said for host James Corden, who handled himself well. It helped that he has a strong sense of musicality, even leading the crowd in a sing-a-long of “Sweet Caroline” (with Neil Diamond).
The night wasn’t without its duds, including a botched opening to a George Michael tribute by Adele and a Bee Gees medley led by Demi Lovato that left much to be desired.
But the weakest performance of the night came from Metallica and Lady Gaga. A mash-up between the two acts was about as sloppy as you might expect. It was a disaster of epic proportions from two acts that are typically solid live performers.
Not surprisingly, politics also came into play. Katy Perry wore a “Resist” band around her arm while performing her new single “Chained to the Rhythm.” The members of A Tribe Called Quest were more blatant about their anti-Trump stance, knocking over a makeshift wall. “Resist, resist, resist!” emcee Q-Tip shouted out.
In winning two awards on TV, Best New Artist Chance the Rapper is now an official star. The opening of his gospel-fueled, socially conscience performance with Kirk Franklin late in the night was a powerful showcase of minimalism.
Then there was the surprising musical showcase of Morris Day and the Time, the fictional turned real life band from Prince’s “Purple Rain.” In case you’re wondering, The Time still has it and Morris Day remains an excellent showman (mirror and all).
The solid Prince tribute concluded with Bruno Mars (who already gave a stellar performance earlier in the night) dressed in purple attire for Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy.” The standout performance came across as far less a parody than Gaga’s polarizing David Bowie tribute last year.
[?] Bruno Mars performing ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ at the #GRAMMYs [?] OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE! pic.twitter.com/gadtpnr9FS
— Bruno Mars News (@brunosnews) February 13, 2017
But this was Adele’s night for better and worse. Her misfire at the start of the George Michael tribute could have been a real mess for anyone else. But Adele handled it fairly well and had the crowd behind her.
Plus, there were still more awards to be given out and they went to Adele. For the second time in her career, Adele swept Song, Record and Album of the Year at the Grammys.
That’s an impressive feat that no one – not Grammy darlings like Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, U2 or Frank Sinatra – has ever accomplished at two ceremonies. Adele is now in a class all her own. But, perhaps, you already knew that.
Adele’s raucous acceptance speech ends with her expressing her undying love for — who else? — Beyonce #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/rau4h4n4mu
— Mashable (@mashable) February 13, 2017
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